The $20 Saint-Gaudens is a one ounce (.9675) gold piece. It is one of the most striking and beautiful gold coins ever minted. The coin was named for its designer Augustus Saint-Gaudens. It is said that during Teddy Roosevelt’s term as President (1901-1909), he had tired of the design of the $20 Liberty, which had been in circulation since 1850. Roosevelt, marveled by the design of the ancient coins of Greece, felt that America in its glory should have something magnificent in its design. In 1905 he commissioned his friend and world renowned sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens to redesign the coinage and the first addition was released in 1907. The coin was originally minted without the motto (the words) “In God We Trust” because Roosevelt felt that it was sacrilegious. But the public didn’t agree and in 1908 the coin was reissued. For the next 25 years the $20 Saint Gaudens would be minted with motto (the words) “In God We Trust”, which forms an arch across the bottom of the reverse side of the coin. This is the reason the $20 Saint Gaudens is often referred to as “with motto” or “no motto”.

The $20 Saint Gaudens is one of two, one ounce (.9675) old US gold coins which are also referred to as a Double Eagle. Those coins minted from 1907 to 1911 have 46 stars across the top of the obverse side, each one representing a state of the union. In 1912 New Mexico and then Arizona became states and the number of stars increased to 48 from 1912 – 1933.

In 1933 Teddy’s cousin, Franklin Roosevelt would confiscate gold. Because the $20 Saint Gaudens was not a collector coin at the time, Americans were forced to turn in Saints receiving the legal set price of $20.67 an ounce. Immediately after citizens turned in their gold, the US Government revalued gold, raising its legal set price to $35 an ounce. Today the $20 Saint Gaudens is one of the most sought after “collector coins” in the world!

The $20 Saint Gaudens was officially minted in the United States in 3 different mints, Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco. It was the last gold piece struck by the U.S. for regular issue and will forever be a symbol of what real money is!

Teddy Roosevelt personally selected the so-called “High Relief” Lady Liberty design. The obverse features the image of Lady Liberty striding confidently into the future, while the reverse features an American Eagle in flight. Unfortunately Saint-Gaudens died of cancer on August 3, 1907 without seeing his magnificent coin enter circulation.

In November of 1907, mintage of “regular issue” High Relief $20 Saint-Gaudens gold coins began. There were 11,250 coins minted but this was no easy task. Each coin required five blows from the press to raise the design relief. Bankers complained that these new coins wouldn't stack properly because of their new design, and practicality winning over aesthetics, the coin design was altered by Charles Barber into a “flat relief” version. The first Barber-redesigned Saints were minted with 1907 & 1908 dates. Struck mostly in Philadelphia, $20 Saint-Gaudens gold coins were also produced at our Denver & San Francisco mints. The High Relief is coveted by collectors and investors and sells for thousands of dollars above the spot gold price.

$20 Gold Eagle Coin Design Specifications

$20 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles are among the world’s most recognized and coveted gold pieces. Workhorse coins of trade, they were crucial building blocks of the expanding U.S. industrial revolution in the 19th and early 20th Centuries.

Some vary rare issues of the $20 Saint Gaudens have sold for record prices in recent years. One 1933 sold in July 2002 for just over $7.5 million. However, some of the lower grades (see Rare Coin Grading) still trade relatively close to the spot gold price and many of the higher grade coins are still very reasonably priced and sell well below their peak values reached in 1989. We consider these coins to be an excellent long-term value.

Limited numbers & worldwide popularity make these classic U.S. Mint $20 Double Eagles a real treasure. They are increasingly sought out by smart gold investors. With true scarcity and collector value, they can appreciate in a rising gold market much faster than bullion coins or bars. In fact, there have been periods over the last 3 ½ decades when St Gaudens in better grades have out-performed gold bullion by substantial margins and at times have risen in value even while gold bullion prices declined. A rising gold market, can be an explosive force for these widely-sought U.S. gold coins!

Gold coins are an excellent hedge against a stalling economy and growing inflation, as the purchasing power of our dollars is shrinking daily. Gold is an ideal hedge against currency inflation & devaluation, stock market volatility, and unforeseen economic hardships. With a national debt exceeding $8 trillion and imploding trade deficits and budget deficits, the growth potential for the St Gaudens make it a valuable tangible asset for troubled times.